Latching system for an electrical connector assembly and a tool for actuating said system

ABSTRACT

A changeable interconnecting means comprising a plurality of receptacles arranged in a tightly packed stack with their sides against each other. The receptacles contain contact pins arranged in cells. The pins are connected to external conductors by wires extending from the rearward ends of the pins. Interconnections are made by plug members containing sockets which are dimensioned to fit snugly into the cells. The plug members are individually removable by virtue of latching means recessed in their sides which engage complementary latching means in the receptacles.

[ Aug. 13,1974

United States Patent 1191 Derr et a1..

M M 9 //63 99 3 9 2 w wm 3 3" 3 U m m3 ma M m "I n u u m u n m n n U Inna "M k 1 .lmI 8 e w ce 1 .11 h ak eunbn fu aeu KRPVDK 5600922 666677999999 111.111 7 00040 Robert George Harwood,

Mechanicsburg, all of Pa. Primary E.\'aminerBobby R. Gay [73] Assignee:AMP Incorporated, Harrisburgh, Pa.

Assistant ExaminerTerrel1 P. Lewis ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Sept. 29, 1972[21] Appl. No.: 293,640

A changeable interconnecting means com plurality of receptacles arrangedin a ti prising a ghtly packed The rece ptapins stack with their sidesagainst each other.

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by virtue of hich engage [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTScomplementary latching means in the receptacles.

2,295,119 7/1959 Montgomery, 339/74 R x 11 Clam, 7 Drawmg Flgures3,179,738 4/1965 DeLyon 339/91 R PATENTEnAus 13 m4 mew LATCHING SYSTEM@FOR AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY AND A TOOL FOR ACTUATING SAIDSYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The presentinvention broadly relates toan electrical connector assembly and moreparticularly is concerned with a latching system which providesindividual connections between connector plugs and connector receptaclesof the assembly which allows the plugs and receptacles to be positionedrespectively in closely packed stacks wherein by only the use of a tooleach plug in the closely packed stack of plugs is individuallyengageable with a receptacle in the closely packed stack of receptaclesand is individually disengageable from the receptacle without disturbingadjacently positioned plugs in the same and adjacent receptacles. Thepresent invention is also more particularly concerned with the toolrequired for the actuation of the latching system which has twogenerally parallel elongated arms which facilitate gripping of anindividual plug during its insertion into, and extraction from, areceptacle simultaneously as the tool arms actuate the latching system.

1. Description Of The Prior Art Transmission networks in the telephoneindustry include thousands of electrical conductor wires. Typically,these wires are electrically and mechanically terminated at the rear bayof main or intermediate frames installed at central offices of telephonecompanies. These wires may serve any of a variety of functions such ascarrying incoming or outgoing signals, or carrying signals between themain frame and various test equipment installed at the central office.

The primary purpose of the main frame is to provide a central locationat which interconnections between these wires can be made as desired onthe front bay of the frame. Typically, the wires terminated at the rearbay of the frame are electrically and mechanically attached to contactterminals mounted in the frame, the attachment being made by either thewire-wrap or soldering techniques. These techniques provide a more orless permanent connection in the sense that the wires cannot be readilydetached from the terminals. While permanent connections between theterminals and the wires at the rear bay of the frame are ordinarilydesirable, such connections between interconnecting wires and theterminals at the front bay of the frame are not desirable since theseconnections need to be frequently detached to change theinterconnections between the wires terminated at the rear bay of thefame.

One type of interconnection system which has been used heretoforeinvolves terminating the ends of the interconnecting wires to jackswhich are pluggable into the main or intermediate frames. These jacksare retained in the frame by conventional detents on the contactterminals mounted in the jacks which mate with conventionalcomplementary detents on the contact terminals mounted in the frame whenthe respective contact terminals on the jack and the frame are mated.

The incorporation of the .detent retention system into the matingcontact terminals .of the jack and the frame creates certain problems.

On the one hand, if the detents and contact terminals are designed suchthat a high extractionforce is required to unmate them to thereby avoidfrequent accidental removal of the jacks from the frame, the plating onthe contact surfaces at which the electrical connection is made will besubjected to a high degree of wear each time the jack is removed fromthe frame which will lead to the need for frequent repair or replacementof the contact terminals in the jack and frame. Furthermore, in view ofthe fact that an operator may be making hundreds of interconnectionseach day, an extraction force of from five to ten pounds for each jackimposes a heavy burden on the stamina of the averaege operator.

On the other hand, if the detents and contact terminals are designedsuch that a low extraction force is required to unmate them, the jacksbecome susceptible to being accidentally removed from the frame merelyby the act of spreading apart of the various interconnecting wires inorder to find the jack which the operator desires to remove from theframe. Also, jacks utilizing this type of retention system which has alow extraction force encourages removal thereof by pulling on theinterconnecting wires which emanate from the jack.

Furthermore, jacks of the aforementioned type when plugged into theframe cannot be positioned in relation to each other in a closely packedstack since some space is required between adjacent ones of the jacks toallow removal of individual jacks either by hand or by a tool which isinserted through an end of the jack to hook it and then pull it from theframe. This extra space neededbetween the jacks is compensated for bythe utilization of small diameter or light weight contact terminals inboth the jack-s and the frame. However, the use of small diameter orlight weight, and inherently less durable, terminals shortens theeffective life span of the terminals and thereby hastens the time whenre-' pair or replacement of the terminals will be required.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The connector assemblyincorporating the latching system of the present invention, and theactuation of this system and the insertion and extraction of theconnector plugs of the assembly by the use of the specifically designedtool of the present invention, eliminate all of the aforementionedproblems and disadvantages of the above described interconnection systemused heretofore.

An object of the invention, therfore, is to provide a connectorassemblyin which the retention of individual connector plugs within theconnector receptacles is achieved by a novel mechanical latching systemwhich is separate from the electrical and mechanical mating connectionbetween the contact terminals respectively of the plug and receptaclewhereby larger diameter, heavier weight, contact terminals may beutilized in the plugs and receptacles of the assembly which enhances theintegrity .of the connector assembly and significantly lengthens thelife span of the terminals used therein.

' Another object of the invention is to provide a latching system whichallows the connector plugs and connector receptacles of the connectorassembly to be disposed respectively in closely packed stacks whereinmateable contact terminals mounted respectively within the plugs andreceptacles which provide interconnections between a multiplicity ofelectrical conductor wires terminated to the contact terminals of thereceptacles on the rearward side of the receptacles facilitate theprovision of the multiplicity of conductor wires in a dense arrangementwhereby any space available for the installation of the connectorassembly which constitutes the frame is maximumly utilized.

A furtherobject of the invention is to provide a positive latchingsystem separate from the contact terminals of the plugs and receptacleswhich in allowing the plugs and receptacles to be disposed respectivelyin closely packed stacks necessitates the use of a specifically designedtool to actuate the system and to achieve rapid insertion and extractionof the plugs into and from the receptacles which thereby eliminatesaccidental removal of the plugs caused by spreading of theinterconnecting wires to find the desired plug and discourages pullingon the interconnecting wires to extract the plugs.

These and other objects of the invention are achieved in a preferredembodiment thereof wherein a latching system for providing an individualconnection between each of an array of closely stacked connector plugsand each of an array of closely stacked connector receptacles includesfirst interengaging means disposed at spaced intervals along an interiorsurface of each of two parallel aligned elongated walls of eachreceptacle which walls receive a plurality of plugs in a rowtherebetween, a channel defined in each of two opposite sides of arearward portion of each plug, an access passageway defined at each ofthe two opposite sides of the rearward portion by each of the channelstherein to gether with respective facing like channels on the rearwardportions of adjacent plugs, a flexible latch arm connected to therearward portion of each plug within at least one of the channels at aposition therein short of the front end of the rearward portion, andsecond interengaging means disposed on the end of the latch arm andaligned with one of the first interengaging means of the receptacle andcoupled therewith when the plug is received in the receptable.

Also, in a preferred embodiment of the invention the latching system isactuated by a tool which further is used to grip each of the plugsduring insertion and extraction of the plug into and from thereceptacle. The depth of the access passages defined at each of the twoopposite sides of the rearward portion of each plug accommodates twoelongated arms of the tool. Each of the tool arms has aninwardly-directed shoulder on the end thereof which is engageable witheach of the flexible latch arms at an actuating position therealonglocated forwardly of the location-of connection of the latch arm andalong the rearward portion of the plug. In the case of the plug havingonly one latch arm, one of the tool arm shoulders would engagetheforward end of abottom wall of the channel simultaneously as theother tool arm shoulder engages the latch arm. Each of the tool armsfurther has an interior surface portion adjacent to each of theshoulders which is shaped to engage the bottom wall of the channelrearwardly of the location of connection of the latch arm to the channelwhen the tool arms are moved toward each other. Movement of the toolarms toward each other accordingly moves the tool arm shoulders towardeach other which forces the flexible latch arms to pivotally flex towardeach other which displaces the second interengaging means of the latcharm from the first interengaging means of the receptacle andsimultaneously causes the tool arm interior surface portions to engagethe channel bottom walls,.whereby the plug may be readily extracted fromthe receptable without disturbing the adjacent plugs of the array ofclosely stacked plugs in the same andadjacent receptacles.

Other objects and attainments of the inventionwill become apparent tothose skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detaileddescription when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which thereis shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the invention; itis to be understood, however, that this embodiment is not intended to beexhaustive nor limiting of the invention but is given for purpose ofillustration in order that others skilled in the art may fullyunderstand the invention and the principles thereof and the manner ofapplying it in practical use so that they may modify it in variousforms, each as may be best suited to the conditions of a particular use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the course of the followingdetailed description reference will be frequently made to the attacheddrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electrical connector assemblyembodying the principles of the present invention having two-contact andfour-contact connector plugs disposed in closely packed stacks in thesame and adjacent connector receptacles disposed in closely packedstacks and further illustrating two of the twocontact connector plugsand one of the four-contact connector plug disengaged from the connectorassembly with a tool gripping the four-contact connector plug and thetool gripping one of the two-contact connector plugs;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the connector assembly embodying theprinciples of the present invention with some two-contact andfour-contact connector plugs received in the receptacles of theconnector assembly;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the connectorassembly taken along line 33 of FIG. 2 showing a four-contact connectorplug prior to extraction from a connector receptacle by the use of thetool; FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the connectorassembly similar to that of FIG. 3 showing the four-contact connectorplug during its extraction from the connector receptacle by the use ofthe tool;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the connectorassembly taken along line 55 of FIG. 2 showing a two-contact connectorplug prior to extraction from a connector receptacle by the use of thetool; FIG. 6 is an exploded, perspective view of the tool shown infragmentary form in FIGS. 1 and 3 through 5; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the tool of FIG. 6 illustrating the toolin assembled form.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now ingreater detail to the various figures of the drawings wherein likereference characters refer to like par-ts, there is shown at 10 in FIGS.1 and 2 an electrical connector assembly for disengageablyinterconnecting a multiplicity of electrical conductors 12, the assemblyforming the preferred embodiment of the present invention. TheassemblylO is comprised by a plurality of connector receptacles 1-4which in the preferred embodiment of the invention receive a pluralityof four-contact connector plugs1l6 and/or a plurality of two-contactconnector plugs 18.

Each of the receptacles14 may be molded from a suitable flame-resistantplasticinsulating material such as poly terephthalate resin to form asubstantially rigid one-piece structure.

Each of the receptacles 14 is comprised by a rectangular block and aplurality of hood portions 22 arranged in a row on, and integrallyformed with, the block 20. Each of the hoodportions 22 is defined by twopairs of oppositely disposed, and interconnected, walls 24, 26 whichextend from the block 20. Each wall 24 of the one pair of walls isintegrally connected with a like wall 24 of the corresponding one pairof walls of adjacent hood portions 22. At least one wall 26 of the otherpair of walls of the hood portions 22 forms a common partition wallbetween adjacent ones of the hood portions 22.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a plurality oflongitudinal cavities 27 are defined through the block 20 of eachreceptacle, the cavities being disposed in spaced apart relation fromeach other and aligned in two rows. A plurality of contact terminalposts 28 emanate from the cavities at the rearward end of the block 20of each receptacle 14.

The posts 28 are electrically andmechanically connected to contactterminal pins 30 which are also mounted within the same longitudinalcavities 27 of each block 20. The pins 30, beingmounted in cavities 27and thus disposed in substantially the same spaced apart relation fromeach other as the posts .28 and aligned in the same two rows, emanatefrom the cavities 27 at the forward end of the block 20 of eachreceptacle 14. The hood portions 22 divide the pins 30 into groups offour with two pins in each of two rows within each hood portion .22.

The contact terminal posts 28 a re ofthe known type and adapted to beelectricallyand mechanically connected to the multiplicity of electricalconductors 12, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, by theconventional wire wrap technique as used in the telephone andcommunicationsindustry. The contact terminal posts 28 and pins 30heretofore referred to are merely illustrative of the types of terminalsused in conjunction with the preferred embodiment of the invention andare not per se a part of the invention. Therefore, for purposes ofbrevity and clarity in this detailed description of the invention, theelectrically and mechanically interconnected posts 28, pins 30 andconductors 12 may be characterized as first conductor means 32.

Each wall 24 of the one pair of walls of each hood portion 22 has awindow 34 formed therein which opens onto both an exterior surface 36and an interior surface 38 of the wall 24. The window 34 ispartiallydefined by ashoulder 40-(see also FIG. 3) which faces toward the blockportion 20 of the receptacle 14. The function and purpose of theshoulder 40 will be described in detail later. The window 34'does notnecessarily need to be formed completely through the wall 24. It is soformed for convenience in the molding of the receptacle 14. However, itis readily seen that the shoulder40 could be formed in teh wall 24 suchthat it only opened onto the interior surface 38 of the. wall Each wall'26 of the other pair of -walls of each hood portion 22 has guidemeans42 formed on the interior surface44 of the wall 26. Also,polarizing'means46 are formed at one of the four corners of intersectionbetween the walls 24, 26 of the two pairs of walls defining each hoodportion 22.

.The receptacles 14 are disposable together in a closely packed stack asshown in FIG. 1 wherein sach stack the exterior surfaces 36 of the walls'24 of each hood portion 22 and the corresponding sides-48 of the block20 which are coplanar with the exterior surfaces 36 are positionableagainst like exterior surfaces 36 and sides 48 of adjacent receptacles14.

As shown in FIGS. '1 and 2, the connector assembly 10 includes threereceptacles 14 with each receptacle having four hood portions 22.However, it is readily apparent that the rectangular'blocks 20 of theassembly 10 could be any desired length so as to have any desired numberof hood portions 22 extending therefrom according to the area desired tobe encompassed by the connector assembly when the assembly isincorporated into the main orintermediate frames used in the telephoneindustry. Further, the receptacles 14 could be molded togetherso as tointegrally'form a total-onepiece structure rather than molded astheindividual one-piece rectangular receptacles 14 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Each of the connector plugs 16,18 may be .molded from a suitableflame-resistant plastic insulating material such aspolycarbonate resinto fonn a substantially rigid one-piece structure.

The four-contact connector plugs 16 will now be described in detail. Thetwo-contact connector-plug 18 which will be described'later issubstantially identical to one-half of the four-contact connector plug16. Therefore, most of the features of the plug '18 will be readilyapparent upon a reading of the following description of the plug '16.

Each oftheplurality of four-contact connector plugs 16 in the assembly10 is rectangular in cross-section and comprised by a forwardportion 50and a rearward portion 52. The forward portion 50 of each plug "16 isreceivable withineach hood portion 22 of the receptacles l4. lnthepreferred embodiment of the invention, when the forward portion 50 isreceived within the hood portion 22, two pairs of opposite sides 54, S6of the forward portion 50 are disposed againstthe interior surfaces 38,44 of the two pairs of opposite walls24, 26 of the hood portions 22.Further, when the forward portion is received within the hood portion22, the rearward portion 52 extends from the hood portion 22. The rearportion 52 has two pairs of opposite sides 58, which correspond to thetwo pairs of opposite sides 54, 56 of the forward portion 50.

The cross-sectional thickness of the rearward portion 52 between itsopposite sides 58 is greater than the cross-sectional thickness of theforward portion50 between its opposite sides 54 by an amountapproximately equal to twice the thickness of the wall 24 of the hoodportion 22 with such cross-sectional thickness of the rearward portion52 between its sides 58 being distributed in relation to that of theforward portion 50 in such a way that each side 58 of the rearwardportion 52 is displaced outwardly from the corresponding side-54 of theforward portion 50 through a distance equal to the thickness of the wall24 of the hood portion 22 whereby each of the sides 58 of the rearwardportion 52 is substantially coplanar with the corresponding exteriorsurface 36 of the walls24-of the hood portions 22.

Furthermore, the cross-sectional thickness of the rearward portion 52between its opposite sides 60 is also greater than the cross-sectionalthickness of the forward portion 50 between its opposite sides 56 by anamount approximately equal to the thickness of the wall 26 of the hoodportion 22 with such crosssectional thickness of the rearward portion 52between its sides 56 being distributed in relation to that of theforward portion 50 in such a way that each side 60 of the rearwardportion 52 is displaced outwardly from the corrsponding side 56 of theforward portion 50 through a distance equal to one-half of the thicknessof the wall 26 of the hood portion 22 whereby each of the sides 60 ofthe rearward portion 52 is substantially coplanar with an imaginaryplane which extends through the wall 26 of the hood portion 22 so as tobisect the thickness of the wall 26.

It is readily apparent that when the forward portions 50 of adjacentplugs 16 are received in adjacent hood portions 22 of the samereceptacle l4 and of adjacent receptacles 14, the rearward portions 52,having the above-described proportioned cross-sectional thicknesses anddisplaced sides in relation to those of the forward portions 50, will bepositioned against each other in a closely packed stack as illustratedin H68. 1 and 2.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, each plug 16 has fourlongitudinal cavities 62 defined therethrough, the cavities 62 beingdisposed in spaced apart relation from each other and aligned two ineach of two rows, and further preferably aligned with the cavities (notshown) in the block of the receptacles 14 when the plugs 16 are receivedin the receptacles 14. In the preferred embodiment, the cavities 62 aresubstantially circular in cross-section. The largest cross-sectionaldimension (the diameter) of each cavity 62 in the rearward portion 52 ofeach plug 16 and the relative displacement of each of the cavities 62one from the other governs the cross-sectional dimensions of therearward portion 52. A plurality of lead wires 64 (FIG. 1) emanate fromthe cavities .62 at the rear end of the rearward portion 52 of the plug16. The wires 64 are electrically and mechanically secured to contactterminals (not shown) which are mounted in the cavities 62 which, inturn, are electrically and mechanically connected to terminal sockets(not shown) also mounted in the cavities 62 and open at the front end ofthe plug 16, the sockets being proportioned to receive, and electricallyand mechanically mate with, the pins 30 of the receptacle 14 when theplug 16 is received within the hood portion 22 of the receptacle 14. Thelead wires 64 of any one of the plugs l6, 18, the wires being shown infragmentary form in FIG. 1, may provide the interconnection between anyother of the plugs l6, 18 as desired. These wires 64 thus constitute theinterconnecting wires which provide electrical communication betweendesired pairs of wires 12 which are terminated at the rear end of thereceptacles 14. The lead wires 64, contact terminals (not shown) andterminal sockets (not shown) heretofore referred to are merelyillustrative of the types of electrical contact components used inconjunction with the perferred embodiment of the invention and are notper se a part of the invention. Therefore, for the purposes of brevityand clarity in this detailed description of the invention, thesecomponents may be characterized as'second conductor means 66.

Plug 16 further includes guide means 67 disposed on its forward portion50 on each of the opposite sides 56 of the forward portion 50 whichguide means 67 interengage with the guide means 42 on each of'theinterior surfaces 44 of the receptacle hood portion walls 26 to assistin the insertion of the plug 16 into the hood portion 22. Also,polarizing means 68 are formed at one of the four corners ofintersection between the sides 54, 56 of the forward portion 50 whichpolarizing means 68 match the polarizing means 46 of each receptaclehood portion 22 to insure proper orientation of the insertion of theplug 16 into the receptacle hood portion 22.

Turning now also to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, there is illustrated a latchingsystem 69 incorporated in the receptacles l4 and plugs 16, 18 of theconnector assembly 10 of the present invention. The latching system 69includes a first channel defined in .each of the two opposite sides 58of the rearward portion 52 of each plug 16. The channel 70 originates atthe rear end of the rearward portion 52 and extends to a position oftermination 72 located short of the front end of the rearward portion 52of the plug 16. Each of the first channels 70 extend inwardly from eachof the outermost exterior surfaces 74 on each of the two opposite sides58 of the rearward portion 52 and between adjacent ones of the cavities62 disposed in the plug 16 adjacent to each of the exterior surfaces 74.Each of the first channels 70 have cross-sectional dimensions which arelimited in their magnitude by the displacement of the adjacent cavities62 one from the other and from each of the respective exterior surfaces74 such that the positions and dimensions of the channels 70 withrespect to the cavities 62 do not interfere with, or disrupt, thedesired overall dense arrangement of a multiplicity of the secondconductor means 66 within the array of closely packed stack of plugs l6,18. Accordingly, consistent with the desired overall dense arrangementof the second conductor means 66, thedepth of each of the first channels70 may at a maximum be substantially equal to the thickness of the wall24 of the receptacle hood portion 22.

The latching system 69 further includes a second channel 76 defined ineach of the two opposite sides 58 of the rearward portion 52 and in eachof the two corresponding opposite sides 54 of the forward portion 50 ofeach plug 16. The channel 76 originates at the location of thetermination position 72 of the first channel 70 within the rearwardportion 52 and extends into the corresponding side 54 of the forwardportion 50. The second channel 76 has a truncated cone shape incrosssection and a relatively greater depth than the first channel 70.Greater structural integrity is required in the rearward portion 52 thanin the forward portion 50 since a latch arm 78 is anchored to therearward portion 52 and the force required to actuate the latch arm 78and to grip the plug l6 is applied by a tool, as will be describedhereinafter, against the rearward portion 52. Therefore, the depth ofthe second channel 76 may extend partially between the cavities 62 whilethe depth of the first channel 70 preferably should not.

When the plugs 16 are arranged in their closely packed stack, each ofthe first and second channels 70,

76 are aligned with, and face, like channels 70, 76 in each rearwardportion 52 of the adjacent plugs 16. However, the hood portion wall 24is interposed between the portions of thelike second channels 76 in eachforward portion 50 of the adjacent plugs 16.

The latching system 69 also includes a flexible latch arm 78 which isconnected to the rearward portion 52 of the plug 16 at each of thetermination positions 72 of the first channels 70 and extends withineach of the second channels 76. The exterior surface 80 of each of thelatch arms 78 merges from, and is substantially coplanar with, a bottomwall 82 of each of the first channels 70 and also substantially coplanarrespectively with each of the two opposite sides 54 of the forwardportion 50 when the latch arms are in their unflexed positions. Each ofthe latch arms 78 are displaced outwardly from a bottom wall 84 of eachof the second channels 76 such that the latch arms 78 may be flexedinwardly toward the second channels 76. Each of the latch arms 78include a shoulder 86 on the free end thereof which projects outwardlyfrom the exterior surface 80 of each of the latch arms 78 and facestoward the rearward portion 52 of the plug 16. Shoulders 40 which areformed in the walls 24 of each of the receptacle hood portions 22 werereferred to earlier. These shoulders 40 are included in the latchingsystem 69. Each of the shoulders 86 is aligned with, and overlies, eachof the shoulders 40 formed in the walls 24 of the receptacle hoodportion 22 in which the plug 16 is received when each of the latch arms78 are in their unflexed positions to thereby secure the plug 16 withinthe receptacle hood portion 22.

Each latch arm 78 is flexibly movable about its location of connection72 between a latching position, as shown in FIG. 3, wherein the latcharm 78 is unflexed and the shoulder 86 on the latch arm 78 is disposedin a coupling or engaging position in overlapping relation with theshoulder 40 of wall 24 of the receptacle hood portion 22 to therebyprevent extraction of the plug 16 from the receptacle l4, and anunlatching position, as shown in FIG. 4, wherein the latch arm 78 isflexed inwardly toward the second channel 76 and the shoulder 86 on thelatch arm 78 is displaced from its coupling or engaging position inrelation to the shoulder 40 of the wall 24 of the receptacle hoodportion 72 inwardly from the location of connection 72 to thereby allowextraction of the plug 16 from the receptacle 14. The latch arm 78 isnormally biased to assume its substantially unflexed or latchingposition. The latch arm 78 also includes a camming surface 87 on the tipof the free end thereof which slopes outwardly and rearwardly from thetip. The camming surface 87 is engageable against the top portion of thewall 24 aligned with, and displaced above, the shoulder 40 of thereceptacle hood portion wall 24 and causes the latch arm 78 to flexinwardly toward the'second channel 76 when the plug 16 is inserted intothe receptacles 14 by hand.

The first channel 70 and the latch arm exterior surface 80 on each ofthe opposite sides 58 of the rearward portion 52 of the plug 16 togetherwith a like first channel 70 and a like latch arm. exterior surface 80on adjacent plugs 16 define an access passageway 88 on each of theopposite sides 58 of the rearward portion 52 of the plug 16.

There is also shown in fragmentary form in FIGS. 1 and 3 through 5, andin unassembled and assembled forms respectively in FIGS. 6 and 7, a tool90 of the plier type having two elongated handles 91 which are pivotallyhinged together adjacent one of their respective ends at openings 93 or94 depending upon whether the tool is to be used in conjunction withplugs 16 or plugs 18. Each of the tool handles 91 at theiraforementioned respective one ends has an elongated arm 92 extendingtherefrom beyond the hinged location of the handles 91, the arms 92being generally parallel to each other. Each of the tool handles 91 withthe arm 92 extending therefrom may be fabricated as a onepiece structureby any suitable known process, such as by stamping, from any suitableknown material such as steel sheet metal, or the tool handles 91 couldbe separately made from a suitable known plastic material by anysuitable known molding process wherein the handles 91 are molded ontothe arms 92 which may be stamped out from steel sheet metal.

Each of the tool arms 92 are movable toward each other when the toolhandles 91 are squeezed together. Each of the tool arms 92 has aninwardly-directed shoulder 95 on the free ends thereof which shoulder 95is engageable with each of the flexible latch arms 78 at an actuatingposition 96 therealong located forwardly of the location of connection72 of the latch arm 78 and short of the front end of the rearwardportion 52. Each of the tool arms 92 further has an interior surfaceportion 97 adjacent to each of the shoulders 95 which surface portion 97is shaped to engage the bottom wall 82 of each of the first channels 70rearwardly of the location of connection 72 of the latch arm 78 to thefirst channel 70 when the tool handles 91 are squeezed together.

Each of the tool handles 91 includes at the other of their respectiveends a slotted tab 98 which extends outwardly from the handle 91 in adirection transverse to the longitudinal direction of the handle 91, anda support post 100 disposed adjacent to, and generally aligned parallelwith, the slotted tab 98.

The slotted tabs 98 have identical oblong slots 102 defined therein,which slots 102 are generally aligned with each other, when the tool isassembled as shown in FIG. 7, in a direction transverse to thelongitudinal direction of the handles 91 to receive a nutted pin screw104 therethrough for coupling the tabs 98 together in a slidingcontacting relationship to facilitate pivotal movement of the toolhandles 91 toward and away from each other, through a predeterminedlength of stroke at the aforementioned other respective ends of thehandles 91. The maximum and minimum limits of the stroke through whichthe handles 91 may be moved are partially determined by the distancebetween the ends 106, 108 of the slots 102 which ends 106, 108 aredisposed respectively remote from, and adjacent to, the handles 91. Themaximum limit of the stroke of the handles 91 is reached when the pinscrew 104 is in contact with the remote ends 106 of the slots 102. Theminimum limit of the stroke of the handles 91 is reached when the pinscrew 104 is in contact with the adjacent ends 108 of the slots 102.

When the tool is assembled, the support posts 100 are disposed insliding contacting relationship with each other and with a spring 110retained by, and disposed loosely about, the support posts 100. Thespring 100 acts as a biasing means on the handles 91 to maintain thehandles 91 at the maximum limit of their stroke.

The maximum limit of the stroke of the tool handles 91 is chosen suchthat when the tool handles 91 are pivotally hinged at openings 93 by anutted pin screw 112 with the handles 91 disposed at the maximum limitof their stroke, the displacement between the inwardlydirected shoulders95 of the tool arms 92 is preferably slightly greater than thecross-sectional thickness of the plug 16 between the first channels 70of the plug 16. Therefore, the tool arms 92 will'be accordingly presetin alignment with the first channels 70 of the plug rearward portion 52prior to insertion of the tool arms 92 along the first channels 70 whichthereby eliminates any need for the tool operator tosqueeze the handles91 toward each other in order to independently establish the desiredalignment between the tool arms 92 and the plug channels 70. The minimumlimit of the stroke of the tool handles 91 is chosen such that when thehandles 91 are squeezed together to the minimum limit of their stroke,the inwardly-directed shoulders 95 of the tool arms 92 have flexed thelatch arms 78 inwardly to their desired flexed positions whereby theplug 16 may be extracted from the receptacle 14. Furthermore, theestablishment of a minimum limit for the stroke of the handles 91 servesto prevent movement of the handles 91, and thus of the arms 92, andaccordingly flexing of the latch arms 78 beyond the desired flexedposition of the latch arms 78 in order to avoid over-flexing of thelatch arms 78 which would possibly cause either the tool arms 92 or thelatch arms 78 to ultimately structurally fatigue or breakoff. Thus, theestablishment of the minimum stroke limit eliminates any need for thetool operator to subjectively guage the squeezing force whichhe appliesto the tool handles 91.

The strength of the tool arms 92 must be great enough to insure thestructural integrity of the arms 92 during the transmission of therequired amount of force therethrough to achieve flexing of the latcharms 78 to their unlatching position and gripping of the plug 16 withsufficient force to overcome the extraction force required to unmate thefour second electrical conductors means 66 of the plug 16 from the fourfirst electrical conductor means 32 of the receptacle 14, the forcebeing transmitted from the handles 91 via the tool arms 92 to the plug16 when the operator squeezes the han dles 91 together from the maximumlimit of their stroke as shown in FIG. 3 to the minimum limit as shownin FIG. 4.

The structural integrity of the tool arms 92 is assured when thecross-sectional dimensions of the tool arms 92 are proportioned inrelation to the cross-sectional dimensions of each of the first channels70 such that while the width of each first channel 70 is slightlygreater than the width of each tool arm 92, the maximum thickness ofeach tool arm 92 is greater than the depth of one of the first channels70 but less than the depth of the access passageway 88 defined betweentwo adjacent plugs by two facing first channels 70 disposed respectivelyon the adjacent plugs 16. In other words, the depth of each of the firstchannels 70, which depth is consistent with the desired overall densearrangement of the multiplicity of second conductor means 66 within thearray of closely packed stack of plugs 16, is less than a predeterminedclearance dimension required by the tool arms 92 for the insertion ofeach of the tool arms 92 along the respective opposite sides 58 of therearward portion 52 of the plug 16. However, each of the accesspassageways 88 have a depth greater than the clearance dimensionrequired for insertion of each of the tool arms 92.

Any one of the plugs 16 may be extracted from the receptaclehood'portion 22 as follows. First, as shown in FIG. 3, each of the twotool arms 92 are inserted into the respective access passageways 88defined at the two opposite sides 58 of the rearward portion 52 of theplug 16. When the shoulders 95 of the tool arms 92 are in contact withthe latch arms 78 at an actuating position 96 located forwardly of thelocation of connection 72 and short of the front end of the rearwardportion 52, the tool arms 92 are moved inwardly toward the rearwardportion 52. This movement of the tool arms 92 forces pivotal movement ofthe latch arms 78 from their normal latching position to theirunlatching position. Then, with the plug 16 so gripped between theinterior surface portions 97 and the shoulders 95 the tool arms 92, theplug 16 may be readily extracted from the receptacle 14 withoutdisturbing the most closely adjacent plugs 16 in the array of closelystacked plugs 16. Extraction of the plug 16 from the receptacle 14causes unmating of the four second electrical conductor means 66 of theplug 16 from the four first electrical conductor means 32 of thereceptacle 14. Also, with the plug 16 so griped between the tool arms92, the plug 16 may be readily inserted into the receptacle 14 withoutdisturbing the most closely adjacent plugs 16 in the array of closelystacked plugs 16.

The two-contact connector plug 18, as stated hereinbefore, issubstantially identical to one-half of the fourcontact connector plug16. That is, the plug 18 is comprised by one-half of the plug 16 whenthe plug 16 is bisected by an imaginary plane which is parallel to eachof the two opposite sides 54,58 of the forward and rearward portions50,52 of the plug 16. Therefore, each of the plugs 18 includes two ofthe cavities 62, two of the second conductor means 66 mounted in therespective cavities 62 in a row. The two second conductor means 66 aremateable with two adjacent ones of the first conductor means 32 beingmounted in one of the two rows within a receptacle hood portion 22. Theplug 18 further includes a first side 114 identical to one of the twoopposite sides 54,58 of the forward and rearward portions 50,52 of theplug 16; therefore the first side 114 has first and second channels 70,76', a flexible latch arm 78 with a shoulder 86 and an access passageway88' defined at the first side 114.

The plug 18 additionally includes a second side 116 which corresponds tothe aforementioned imaginary bisecting plane and is disposed opposite tothe first side 114. The second side 116 of the plug 18 will be disposedagainst a like second side 116 of another plug 18 when both of the plugs18 are received adjacent one another in the same receptacle hood portion22 (see FIG. 2). Each of the plugs 18 additionally further includes athird channel 118 defined in the second side 116, the channel 118originating at the rear end of the rearward portion 52 of the plug 18and extending to the front end of the rearward portion 52'. The thirdchannel 118 of one plug 18 together with a facing like third channel 118on the second side 116 of the adjacent plug 18 defining another accesspassageway 120 which has substantially the same dimensions as the accesspassageway 88' at the first side 114.

When the tool 90 is utilized in conjunction with the two-contact plug18, the tool handles 91 are pivotally hinged at openings 94 by thenutted pin screw 112 instead of at openings 93. With the maximum andminimum limits of the stroke of the ends of the tool handles 91 disposedremote from their hinged location remaining the same when the toolhandles 91 are pivotally hinged togetherat openings 94 as when thehandles 91 were hinged together at openings 93, the change of thepivotal axis of the handles 91 from openings 93 to openings 94 shortensthe displacement between the shoulders 95 of the tool arms 92 ."Theposition of openings 94 is chosen in relation to openings 93 such thatwhen the handles 91 are disposed at the maximum limit of their stroke,the displacement between the shoulders 95 of the tool arms 92 ispreferably slightly greater than the cross-sectional thickness of theplug 18 between the first channel 70' and the third channel 118 of theplug 18. Therefore, the tool arms 92 will be accordingly preset inalignment respectively with the first channel 70' and the third channel118 of the rearward portion 52' of the plug 18 prior to insertion of thetool arms 92 therealong which thereby eliminates any need for the tooloperator to squeeze the handles 91 toward each other in order toindependently establish the desired alignment between the tool arms 92and the channels 70, 118 of the plug 18. Further, the position ofopenings 94 is chosen in relation to openings 93 such that when thehandles 91 are disposed at the minimum limit of their stroke, theshoulders 95 of the tool arms 92 have flexed the one latch arm 78'inwardly to its desired flexed position whereby the plug 16 may beextracted from the receptacle 14. When the tool handles 91 are disposedat the minimum limit of their stroke, the shoulder 95 of one tool arm 92engages the latch arm 78' at the actuating position 96' therealong andhas moved the latch arm 78' to its flexed (unlatching) position;simultaneously therewith, the interior surface portion 97 of that onetool arm 92 engages the bottom wall 82' of the first channel 70' and theshoulder 95 of the other tool arm 92 engages the forward end of thethird channel 118 of the rearward portion 52 of the plug 18 to therebysufficiently grip the plug 18 for insertion or extraction of the plug 18into and from the receptacle 14.

Any one of the plugs 18 may be extracted from the receptacle hoodportion 22 as follows. First, as shown in FIG. 5, each of the two toolarms 92 are inserted into the respective access passageways 88', 120defined respectively at the first and second sides 114,116 of therearward portion 52' of the plug 18. When the shoulders 95 of thetoolarms 92 are in contact respectively with the latch arm 78' at theactuating position 96 and the forward end of the third channel 118, thetool arm 92 in contact with the latch arm 78' is moved inwardly towardthe rearward portion 52'. This movement of the tool arm 92 forcespivotal movement of the latch arm 78' from its normal latching-positionto its unlatching position and engagement of the interior surfaceportion 97 of the one tool arm 92 with the first channel 70. Then, withthe plug 18 so gripped between the tool arms 92, the plug 18 may bereadily inserted into, and extracted from, the receptacle 14 withoutdisturbing the most closely adjacent plug, one being'a plug 18 in thesame receptacle hood portion 22, and the others being eitherfour-contact plugs 16 or two-contact plugs 18 in adjacent receptaclehoods 22. Extraction of the plug 18 from the receptacle 14 causesunmating of the two second electrical conductor means 66 of the plug 18from the two first electrical conductor means 32 of the receptacle 14.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the connector assembly 10 includes twotwo-contact connector plugs 18 and five four-contact connector plugs 16received in respective hood portions 22 of the receptacle 14. However,it is readily apparent that the plugs 16,18 can be arranged in anycombination of two-contact and fourcontact plugs as desired. -It is alsoreadily apparent that, without departing from the principles of theinvention, some of the walls 26 which form common partition wallsbetween adjacent ones of the hood portions 22 could be omitted and thattwo or more of the plugs 16 could be molded so as to integrally connectat their opposite sides 56,60 respectively of their forward and rearwardportions 50,52 to form eight-contact or 12- contact plugs if desired.Also, two or more of the plugs 18 could be molded so as to integrallyconnect at their opposite sides which correspond to the opposite sidesof the plugs 16 to form four-contact or six-contact plugs if desired. Ineach of the above-described modifled forms of plugs 16,18 only one setof the latching system 69 would need to be provided on the modifiedplugs.

However, since the connector assembly 10 forming the preferredembodiment of the invention is particularly adapted for use in thetelephone industry, the four-contact plugs 16 and the two-contact plugs18 are the preferred types of plugs. In the telephone industry, a pairof conductor wires which comprises a loop is required in order totransmit a message in theform of electrical signals, hence, thepreference for the twocontact plug is order to provide theinterconnections which close the loop. in the case of local telephoneservice, only one pair of wires is required. However, in the case oflong-distance telephone service, two pairs of conductor wires whichcomprise two loops are required to transmit a message since an amplifierwhich operates electrically in only one direction must be electricallytied into each of the two loops. Hence, a four-contact plug is preferredin the case of long-distance telephone service in order to provide theinterconnections whic close each of the two loops. 1

it is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of the parts and that changes may be made in the form,construction and arrangement of the connector assembly and tooldescribed without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionor sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbeforedescribed being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

terminals in said body portion having contact ends extending into saidcells,

a plurality of plug members, each of said plug members being dimensionedto fit snugly into one of said cells, each of said plug members havingan axially extending groove extending on two opposite sides thereof, andhaving cantilever latching arms, said grooves being in alignment withsaid arms,

said sidewalls having openings therein for cooperation with saidlatching arms whereby,

adjacent plug members have said recesses in alignment to provide anopening for admission of an extrattion tool to remove an individual plugmember from one of said receptacles.

2. lnterconnecting means for selectively and changeably connecting afirst multiplicity of wires to a second multiplicity of wires, saidinterconnecting means comprising:

an electrical receptacle means comprising a housing having a mating faceand a rearward face, first contact terminals in said housing extendingthrough said housing to, and beyond, said mating face, said firstmultiplicity of wires being connected to said terminals adjacent to saidrearward face, said housing having hood means completely enclosing saidmating face and having barrier walls extending across said mating facebetween opposite sides of said hood means, said barrier walls and saidhood means defining a plurality of individual cells,

a plurality of electrical plugs, each of said plugs comprising a housinghaving a forward end and a rearward end, said forward end of each plugbeing in one of said cells, second contact terminals in said plugs, saidsecond contact terminals being mated wtih said first contact terminals,

said rearward ends of said plugs having their sides disposed closelyagainst each other, each of said plugs having on two opposite sidesthereof a groove extending along its rearward end to its forward ends,the grooves on the sides of adjacent plugs forming an opening betweenadjacent plugs,

each of said plugs having latch arm means on said two sides on itsforward end, said latch arm means being disengageably latched to saidbarrier walls, whereby,

an extraction tool can be inserted into said openings to disengage saidlatch arm means of an individual plug thereby to permit extraction ofsaid individual plug from said receptacle.

3. lnterconnecting means as set forth in claim 2, said cells and saidplugs being generally rectangular.

4. lnterconnecting means as set forth in claim 3, said barrier wallshaving openings therein, said latch arm means having hook portionsextending into said openmgs.

5. lnterconnecting means for selectively and changeably interconnectinga first plurality of wires and a second plurality of wires, saidinterconnecting means comprising:

an electrical receptacle means comprising an insulating housing having amating face and a rearward face, first contact terminals in said housingextending through said housing, to, and beyond, said mating face,

said housing having rectangular hood means surrounding said mating face,said hood means opposed parallel sides, barrier walls extending betweeneach pair of opposite sides at predetermined intervals, saidbarrierwalls and said hood means defining aplurality of individualrectangular cells, each of said cells surrounding a predetermined numberof said first contact terminals a plurality of electrical plugs, each ofsaid plugs comprising a plug housing having a forward end and a rearwardend, said forward ends being in said Cells, second contact terminals insaid plugs, said second contact terminals being mated with said firstcontact terminals,

said rearward ends of said plugs extending beyond said cells and havingtheir sides disposed closely against each other, each of said plugshaving on two opposite sides thereof a groove extending along itsrearward end to its forward end, the grooves of the sides of adjacentplugs forming an opening between adjacent plugs,

each of said plugs having latching means on said two sides, saidlatching means being proximate to said forward ends, said latching beingin engagement with said barriers and serving to latch said plugs in saidcells, whereby each of said plugs is individually removable from itsrespective cell uponinsertion of a latch disengaging tool into the saidopenings extending inwardly on each side of said plug.

6. lnterconnecting means as set forth in claim 5, said receptacle meanscomprising a plurality of receptacle modules, each of said moduleshaving a row of said cells, said modules being stacked against eachother.

7. lnterconnecting means as set forth in claim 6, said latching means oneach of said plugs comprising latch arms, said latch arms being inalignment with said grooves.

8. lnterconnecting means as set forth in claim 7, each of said moduleshaving openings on opposite sides of each cell therein, said latch armsbeing in engagement with said openings. I

9. lnterconnecting means as set forth in claim 8, said first contactterminals comprising contact pins, said second contact terminalscomprising contact sockets.

hood and dividing said enclosure into a plurality of I cells,

a plurality of electrical contact terminals in said housing, first wiresconnected to said conductors proximate to said rearward face, saidterminals having contact portions extending into said cells,

a plurality of electrical plug members, each of said plug members havinga mating end and a rearward end, said mating end being of reduceddimensions to fit snugly within one of said cells, each of said plugshaving a forwardly facing shoulder between said mating end and saidrearward end, said shoulders being against the edges of said hoods andthe edges of said barrier walls, and rearward portions of said plugsbeing tightly against each other,

a plurality of contact receiving cavities extending through said plugsand second electrical contact terminals in said cavities, wires securedto said terminals proximate to said rearward ends, said first terminalsextending into said cavities and being mated with said second terminals,each of said plugs having on two opposite sides a groove extending alongits rearward end, to its forward end, an integral cantilever latch armassociated with each of said grooves, said latch arms being integralwith said plug in said rearward portion and extending towards saidforward portions, each of said latch arms having an outer surface whichis coplanar with the floor of its respective groove and having a freeend which is flexible towards said forward portion, and openings in saidhoods in engagement with said latch arms to latch said plugs in saidcells whereby, said grooves in adjacent plugs are in opposed alignedrelationship and provide a recess for entry of an extraction tool forengagement with said latch arms thereby to permit flexure of said latcharms of an individual plug, disengagement of said latch arms from saidopenings and extraction of said plug from its cell.

11. An electrical plug adapted for use with an electrical receptaclewhich is capable of receiving a plurality of identical plugs in aclosely packed arrangement, said plug comprising:

a rectangular housing having a rearward end and a forward end, aforwardly facing shoulder between said rearward end and said forwardend, said shoulder being adapted to serve as a stop upon mating of saidplug with said receptacle,

a groove extending forwardly on each of two opposite sides of saidhousing, a cantilever latch arm in each of said grooves, each of saidlatch arms extending towards said forward end of said housing and havingoutwardly facing surfaces which are coplanar with the floor of saidgroove, said latch arms having free ends which are adjacent to saidforward end of said housing and having means on said free ends forengagement with said receptacle, said latch arms being flexiblelaterally towards said forward end of housing to permit engagement anddisengagement of said free ends of said arms with said receptaclewhereby,

adjacent plugs mated with said receptacle in the same orientation willhave said grooves opposite to each other to provide passagewaysextending towards said forward ends of said plugs, said passagewayspermitting entry of an extraction tool to capable of flexing said latcharms to disengage an individual plug from said re-

1. Interconnecting means for changeably interconnecting a multiplicityof wires comprising: a plurality of receptacle members, each of saidreceptacle members comprising a rectangular housing, said housings beingarranged in a tightly packed stack with their wide sides against eachother, each of said housings comprising a body portion and a hoodportion, a plurality of barrier walls extending transversely betweensaid wide sides in said hood portion, said barrier walls dividing saidhood portion into a plurality of rectangular cells, contact terminals insaid body portion having contact ends extending into said cells, aplurality of plug members, each of said plug members being dimensionedto fit snugly into one of said cells, each of said plug members havingan axially extending groove extending on two opposite sides thereof, andhaving cantilever latching arms, said grooves being in alignment withsaid arms, said sidewalls having openings therein for cooperation withsaid latching arms whereby, adjacent plug members have said recesses inalignment to provide an opening for admission of an extrattion tool toremove an individual plug member from one of said receptacles. 2.Interconnecting means for selectively and changeably connecting a firstmultiplicity of wires to a second multiplicity of wires, saidinterconnecting means comprising: an electrical receptacle meanscomprising a housing having a mating face and a rearward face, firstcontact terminals in said housing extending through said housing to, andbeyond, said mating face, said first multiplicity of wires beingconnected to said terminals adjacent to said rearward face, said housinghaving hood means completely enclosing said mating face and havingbarrier walls extending across said mating face between opposite sidesof said hood means, said barrier walls and said hood means defining aplurality of individual cells, a plurality of electrical plugs, each ofsaid plugs comprising a housing having a forward end and a rearward end,said forward end of each plug being in one of said cells, second contactterminals in said plugs, said second contact terminals being mated wtihsaid first contact terminals, said rearward ends of said plugs havingtheir sides disposed closely against each other, each of said plugshaving on two opposite sides thereof a groove extending along itsrearward end to its forward ends, the grooves on the sides of adjacentplugs forming an opening between adjacent plugs, each of said plugshaving latch arm means on said two sides on its forward end, said latcharm means being disengageably latched to said barrier walls, whereby, anextraction tool can be inserted into said openings to disengage saidlatch arm means of an individual plug thereby to permit extraction ofsaid individual plug from said receptacle.
 3. Interconnecting means asset forth in claim 2, said cells and said plugs being generallyrectangular.
 4. Interconnecting means as set forth in claim 3, saidbarrier walls having openings thereIn, said latch arm means having hookportions extending into said openings.
 5. Interconnecting means forselectively and changeably interconnecting a first plurality of wiresand a second plurality of wires, said interconnecting means comprising:an electrical receptacle means comprising an insulating housing having amating face and a rearward face, first contact terminals in said housingextending through said housing, to, and beyond, said mating face, saidhousing having rectangular hood means surrounding said mating face, saidhood means opposed parallel sides, barrier walls extending between eachpair of opposite sides at predetermined intervals, said barrier wallsand said hood means defining a plurality of individual rectangularcells, each of said cells surrounding a predetermined number of saidfirst contact terminals a plurality of electrical plugs, each of saidplugs comprising a plug housing having a forward end and a rearward end,said forward ends being in said cells, second contact terminals in saidplugs, said second contact terminals being mated with said first contactterminals, said rearward ends of said plugs extending beyond said cellsand having their sides disposed closely against each other, each of saidplugs having on two opposite sides thereof a groove extending along itsrearward end to its forward end, the grooves of the sides of adjacentplugs forming an opening between adjacent plugs, each of said plugshaving latching means on said two sides, said latching means beingproximate to said forward ends, said latching being in engagement withsaid barriers and serving to latch said plugs in said cells, wherebyeach of said plugs is individually removable from its respective cellupon insertion of a latch disengaging tool into the said openingsextending inwardly on each side of said plug.
 6. Interconnecting meansas set forth in claim 5, said receptacle means comprising a plurality ofreceptacle modules, each of said modules having a row of said cells,said modules being stacked against each other.
 7. Interconnecting meansas set forth in claim 6, said latching means on each of said plugscomprising latch arms, said latch arms being in alignment with saidgrooves.
 8. Interconnecting means as set forth in claim 7, each of saidmodules having openings on opposite sides of each cell therein, saidlatch arms being in engagement with said openings.
 9. Interconnectingmeans as set forth in claim 8, said first contact terminals comprisingcontact pins, said second contact terminals comprising contact sockets.10. Interconnecting means for selectively and changeably connecting afirst multiplicity of wires to a second multiplicity of wires, saidinterconnecting means comprising: a plurality of receptacle members,each of said receptacle members comprising a rectangular housing havinga mating face and a rearward face, each housing having a hood extendingfrom, and surrounding, its mating face, said hood defining an enclosurewhich surrounds said mating face, and a plurality of barrier wallsextending at equally spaced intervals between two opposite sides of saidhood and dividing said enclosure into a plurality of cells, a pluralityof electrical contact terminals in said housing, first wires connectedto said conductors proximate to said rearward face, said terminalshaving contact portions extending into said cells, a plurality ofelectrical plug members, each of said plug members having a mating endand a rearward end, said mating end being of reduced dimensions to fitsnugly within one of said cells, each of said plugs having a forwardlyfacing shoulder between said mating end and said rearward end, saidshoulders being against the edges of said hoods and the edges of saidbarrier walls, and rearward portions of said plugs being tightly againsteach other, a plurality of contact receiving cavities extending throughsaid plugs and second electrical contact terminals in said cavities,wiRes secured to said terminals proximate to said rearward ends, saidfirst terminals extending into said cavities and being mated with saidsecond terminals, each of said plugs having on two opposite sides agroove extending along its rearward end, to its forward end, an integralcantilever latch arm associated with each of said grooves, said latcharms being integral with said plug in said rearward portion andextending towards said forward portions, each of said latch arms havingan outer surface which is coplanar with the floor of its respectivegroove and having a free end which is flexible towards said forwardportion, and openings in said hoods in engagement with said latch armsto latch said plugs in said cells whereby, said grooves in adjacentplugs are in opposed aligned relationship and provide a recess for entryof an extraction tool for engagement with said latch arms thereby topermit flexure of said latch arms of an individual plug, disengagementof said latch arms from said openings and extraction of said plug fromits cell.
 11. An electrical plug adapted for use with an electricalreceptacle which is capable of receiving a plurality of identical plugsin a closely packed arrangement, said plug comprising: a rectangularhousing having a rearward end and a forward end, a forwardly facingshoulder between said rearward end and said forward end, said shoulderbeing adapted to serve as a stop upon mating of said plug with saidreceptacle, a groove extending forwardly on each of two opposite sidesof said housing, a cantilever latch arm in each of said grooves, each ofsaid latch arms extending towards said forward end of said housing andhaving outwardly facing surfaces which are coplanar with the floor ofsaid groove, said latch arms having free ends which are adjacent to saidforward end of said housing and having means on said free ends forengagement with said receptacle, said latch arms being flexiblelaterally towards said forward end of housing to permit engagement anddisengagement of said free ends of said arms with said receptaclewhereby, adjacent plugs mated with said receptacle in the sameorientation will have said grooves opposite to each other to providepassageways extending towards said forward ends of said plugs, saidpassageways permitting entry of an extraction tool to capable of flexingsaid latch arms to disengage an individual plug from said receptacle.